Brewers' Segura sits with sore shoulder

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Brewers shortstop Jean Segura wanted more at-bats in the waning days of Spring Training to wake his quiet bat, but a sore throwing shoulder is getting in the way.

The issue is minor, according to manager Ron Roenicke, but was enough to prevent Segura from playing the field against the Rangers on Friday afternoon. He still traveled with the team to Surprise Stadium and was available to pinch hit.

"It's just normal [soreness]," Roenicke said. "A lot of guys go through it for two or three days, and then hopefully it's back to normal."

Segura entered the day batting .268 (11-for-41) with nine singles, a double and a triple. His modest start is not surprising considering Segura skipped winter ball for the first time in years, ordered by the Brewers to rest after a whirlwind stretch from the start of 2012 through the Dominican Winter League season through his first full Major League season in '13.

Segura was a National League All-Star thanks to a sensational first half in which he hit .325 with 29 extra-base hits, including 11 home runs. But he faded after the break, hitting .231 with 12 extra-base hits, including only one home run.

"He asked me to play some more, maybe because he felt he needed to get in more ballgames and get that rhythm back and get the eye at the plate," Roenicke said. "So I tried to do that, and then he gets a little sore in the shoulder. So there's tradeoffs there.

"But in the long run, it should really be good for him. He should definitely be fresher longer. I think once he gets into his rhythm and everything starts falling into place, the confidence will be there. The mental [grind] can wear you down. Last year, I don't think it was just the physical, I think it was also the mental [aspect of his] first year in the big leagues."